If Miller, an unrestricted free agent on July 1, isn’t willing to sign an extension in Buffalo — and it’s believed that conversation will take place — then it’ll be the job of the new GM to set up the auction to get return for Miller.

Lafontaine wants to have the new face in place by Christmas so Buffalo can get to work and set the stage for getting the once respectable franchise back on track. Should Miller decide he wants out, a trade must be made.

If Miller does decide he wants to move on — and the belief is he wants to go to the Western Conference — a league source says there’s a team that may interest Miller looking for a goalie: The Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings are without the injured Jonathan Quick for at least another month and while Ben Scrivens has done a good job, he’s not a long-term solution. Los Angeles GM Dean Lombardi will deny it emphatically, but he’s been sniffing.

The St. Louis Blues have been mentioned as a possible destination for Miller, but don’t rule out the Kings once the new man takes over in Buffalo.

THIS N’ THAT: Philly C Claude Giroux has played himself back onto the radar screen for Canada’s Olympic Team in Sochi. Recovering from the wrist injury he suffered in a golf incident in August in Ottawa, Giroux has played better, started scoring and the door opened when Tampa C Steve Stamkos broke his tibia. Giroux shouldn’t be ruled out completely but remains a longshot ... The Rangers are trying to deal to clear up cap space. The name of D Michael Del Zotto was reported in this space earlier this month and he’s available. The Senators, Hurricanes, Oilers and Sharks have interest, but the Rangers want a blueliner in return. Making $2.55 million, he is in coach Alain Vigneault’s doghouse and it’s in GM Glen Sather’s best interest to get Del Zotto moved. The Rangers need to clear money. It’s believed G Henrik Lundqvist wants an eight-year deal in the $8-to-$9 million per-season range. The club also has to try to sign UFA RW Ryan Callahan, UFA D Dan Girardi, UFA D Anton Stralman and you’d think RFA C Derrick Brassard would get a $4 million award in arbitration.

AROUND THE BOARDS: With American Thanksgiving set for Thursday, there have been three coaching changes — Philly, Buffalo and Florida — but there could be more. Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen hasn’t played the coach firing card since he took the job with the Jackets which means Todd Richards is in trouble. The Jets aren’t pleased with what’s happening and the whisper campaign about coach Claude Noel is louder. The Islanders like coach Jack Capuano, but they’ve been underachieving and GM Garth Snow hasn’t shied away from changes in the past ... The Sharks have been shopping RW Martin Havlat, who has one year left at $6 million. He’s seen only limited playing time, but there’s mild interest from the Panthers and Rangers ... Before acquiring RW Kris Versteeg from Florida, Hawks GM Stan Bowman studied the possibility of dealing for RW Rene Bourque from the Canadiens. The word is Montreal GM Marc Bergevin wants to do something big. What that means exactly? Not sure but Bourque won’t get a lot of return and neither will C Brian Gionta.

RUMOURS DU JOUR: Three teams say there is a lot of chatter and most of it is coming from the Sunshine State. After sending Versteeg back to the Hawks, Florida GM Dale Tallon isn’t done. He’d like to move RW Scottie Upshall, LW Tomas Fleischman, RW Brad Boyes, RW Tomas Kopecky, C Marcel Goc and C Shawn Matthias before the deadline. There is a market for D Dmitry Kulikov with lots of teams interest, but he may bolt for the KHL. Upshall and Fleischmann are immoveable because of their contracts but Tallon may find someone to take Goc, Kulikov and Matthias off their hands before the deadline. The Panthers wanted to move Versteeg so badly they picked up $6 million in salary and I’m told by a NHL executive Tallon is “open for business. He’s even willing to take on cash.” ... Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster has been busy working the phones. It’s believed he has served notice C Mikael Backlund and D Shane O’Brien are available. O’Brien has a cap hit of $2 million while Backlund is making $1.5 million. Both have deals that run through 2014-15 ... Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish has been calling around to get a blueliner to replace D Ladislav Smid, who was dealt down the street to Calgary. The Oilers need help everywhere, however, teams are asking for young players in return. “They want to do something but they overrate their players which means the prices are high,” said a league executive. He should be able to get a top pick for UFA RW Ales Hemsky